Vestax Corporation was a Japanese musical instrument, turntable and audio equipment firm founded by Hidesato Shiino in 1977. The company started by designing and manufacturing
electronic guitars. In the 1980s, Vestax produced multitrack recorders and later moved to making
DJ mixer
A DJ mixer is a type of audio mixing console used by disc jockeys (DJs) to control and manipulate multiple audio signals. Some DJs use the mixer to make seamless transitions from one song to another when they are playing records at a dance club. ...
s, professional
turntables
A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...
,
CD player
A CD player is an electronic device that plays audio compact discs, which are a digital audio, digital optical disc data storage format. CD players were first sold to consumers in 1982. CDs typically contain recordings of audio material such a ...
s and
signal processors. Debt troubles led to the company's bankruptcy at the end of 2014.
History
The Vestax Corporation of
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
began in 1977 as a designer and manufacturer of
electronic guitars. In the 1980s Vestax introduced a series of
cassette
Cassette may refer to:
Technology
* Cassette (format) (or ''cassette tape''), a format that contains magnetic tape for audio, video, and data storage and playback
* Compact Cassette, a worldwide standard for analog audio recording and playback ...
-based
multitracks, including the
Vestax MR66, to challenge established products from Fostex, Yamaha and
Tascam
TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo Japan. TASCAM established the Home Recording phenomenon by creating the "Project Studio" and is credited as the inventor of the Portastudio, the first casset ...
's portastudios.
Competing in the turntable market

During the late 1990s Vestax launched a new flagship range of professional DJ turntables. The PDX models had higher specifications than the two market leading products from
Technics and were priced in direct competition with the Technics SL1210/SL1200.
However, the industry standard Technics SL1210/SL1200 models remained the favourite of DJs worldwide. At the time they were an established brand with a twenty-year
head start. There have also been some build quality issues reported throughout 2008 and 2009.
This pattern of events has been replicated by other DJ equipment manufacturers such as
Numark,
Gemini
Gemini most often refers to:
* Gemini (constellation), one of the constellations of the zodiac
* Gemini (astrology), an astrological sign
Gemini may also refer to:
Science and technology Space
* Gemini in Chinese astronomy, the Gemini constellat ...
and
Stanton. These turntables have either a higher specification or lower cost, in sheer numbers sold they are still dwarfed by the various versions of the Technics SL-1200 & SL-1210 series.
Expanding range
In 2006, Vestax moved into the burgeoning digital DJ market and released the VCI 100, an all-in-one DJ controller used to control digital DJ software. Its design of jog wheels and a mixer in a single compact frame sparked a revolution in digital DJ hardware, quickly becoming the blueprint for most DJ controllers and helping to re-establish Vestax as a major player in the DJ market. The company has subsequently solidified this position by launching a highly respected range of DJ controllers from low-end consumer models to more highly specced pro versions such as the VCI-380 and VCI-400.

In the 2010s Vestax focused on high-tech musical electronics, creating
signal processors,
DJ Mixers, professional
turntables
A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...
and
CD player
A CD player is an electronic device that plays audio compact discs, which are a digital audio, digital optical disc data storage format. CD players were first sold to consumers in 1982. CDs typically contain recordings of audio material such a ...
s. The company also reduced its range of turntables, but kept the PDX-2000mk2/2300mk2 for mainstream DJ use, and the PDX-2000mk2pro/PDX-2300pro with a new tonearm suspension system for increased skip resistance. In conjunction with
DJ Qbert
Richard Quitevis (born October 7, 1969) known by his stage name DJ Qbert or Qbert, is a Filipino American turntablist and composer who has heavily influenced the History of DJing. He was awarded America's Best DJ in 2010, was DMC USA Champio ...
they have also released the QFO and QFO LE models. These turntables have built-in mixers, and a portable turntable/mixer
Debt troubles
In mid-October 2014, many websites reported a speculative piece investigating reports from the Japanese news source "Teikoku News Online", that Vestax was ceasing operations. Retailers in the US closed shop, and there was a lack of representation or new products being revealed at trade shows. On 5 December Vestax started bankruptcy proceedings with a debt of 900 million yen (roughly $7.5 million USD).
Technology

Vestax was the manufacturer to release a vinyl cutting machine for home vinyl cutting of new mixes /
dubplate
A dubplate is an acetate disc usually of 10 inches diameter, traditionally used by studios to test recordings prior to mastering for the subsequent pressing of a vinyl record, but pioneered by reggae sound systems as a way to play exclusive mu ...
, in 2001.
[
]"''An affordable vinyl cutter was even introduced in 2001 by DJ equipment manufacturer Vestax, allowing home vinyl cutting of new mixes''".
Vestax innovated with their turntable using a straight tone arm, which gave greater tracking force; useful for complex DJing maneuvers such as scratching or beat juggling. This has been adopted by virtually all other turntable manufacturers, with the exception of Technics. Some maintain however that the straight arm increases wear upon the record. This is based on the premise that the original 's' shaped tonearm is so designed as to naturally gravitate toward the center of the record. The straight arm will not do this, and so will theoretically drag more as the record rotates, wearing down the grooves. Vestax however have consistently denied this.
Mixers
For many years Vestax had been creating professional mobile DJ style mixers, but in the early 1990s they started creating mixers focusing on the developing
Turntablism
Turntablism is the art of manipulating sounds and creating new music, sound effects, mixes and other creative sounds and beats, typically by using two or more Phonograph, turntables and a cross fader-equipped DJ mixer. The mixer is plugged into ...
scene. Two of the first early attempts were the Vestax PMC-05FX and PMC-05 Trix mixers. These were simple mixers which were endorsed by famous DJs and had a stripped down layout. They had features (like a centered
crossfader
In audio engineering, a fade is a gradual increase or decrease in the level of an audio signal. The term can also be used for film cinematography or theatre lighting in much the same way (see fade (filmmaking) and fade (lighting)).
In sou ...
which was replaceable). They were also a small size which made juggling and other techniques easier. But they lacked some key features like a smooth crossfader, hamster switch, EQ controls, and an unobstructed crossfader area. During the 1993
NAMM Show
The NAMM Show is an annual trade show in the United States organized by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), which describes it as "the industry’s largest stage, uniting the global music, sound and entertainment technology commun ...
, Vestax began talking to DJs (including
DJ Shortkut
The Invisibl Skratch Piklz are an American group of turntablists.
The members of the group were originally hip-hop DJs, who were among the pioneers of the turntablism movement in the 1990s; turntablists create musical pieces by mixing sampl ...
,
DJ Rhettmatic
DJ Rhettmatic (born Nazareth Nirza; May 10, 1969) is a producer, disc jockey and member and part creator of Southern California's first turntable band, the Beat Junkies.
Career
Rhettmatic began his DJ career in 1983, with Double Platinum, a DJ ...
, and
DJ Q-Bert
Richard Quitevis (born October 7, 1969) known by his stage name DJ Qbert or Qbert, is a Filipino American turntablism, turntablist and composer who has heavily influenced the History of DJing. He was awarded America's Best DJ in 2010, was DMC W ...
) about creating mixers which took some of the best features from previous models and catered to the emerging turntablism scene. The PMC-05 Pro was the first model which came out of these conversations. It was a major step forward for DJs competing in DJ battles. It had a smooth, quick cut crossfader which was adjustable. The crossfader was also not surrounded by any screws or physical barriers, which made scratching and juggling easier. Other features included headphone cueing, 2 band EQs, and independent gains per channel.
Mixer Models
* PMC-05 Series
** PMC-05Pro
** PMC-05Pro Limited Edition
** PMC-05ProII
** PMC-05ProD Samurai
** PMC-05ProQ
** PMC-05ProIII
** PMC-05ProSL
** PMC-05ProIIIVCA
** PMC-05ProSLVCA
** PMC-05ProIIIDX
** PMC-05ProIV
* PMC-06 Series
** PMC-06T
** PMC-06Pro
** PMC-06ProA
** PMC-06ProD Samurai
** PMC-06ProVCA
* PMC-07 Series
** PMC-07Pro
** PMC-07ProISP
** PMC-07ProD Samurai
** PMC-007
** PMC-37 Pro
* PMC-50 Series
** PMC-50
** PMC-50A
** PMC-55
** PMC-500
** PMC-580Pro
* PCV Series
** PCV-002
** PCV-150
** PCV-175
** PCV-175R (rotary version)
** PCV-180
** PCV-275
** PCV-275R (rotary version)
Influence

Vestax focused on the needs of
nightclub
A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...
s and
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include Radio personality, radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at nightclubs or music fes ...
s and their
DJ mixer
A DJ mixer is a type of audio mixing console used by disc jockeys (DJs) to control and manipulate multiple audio signals. Some DJs use the mixer to make seamless transitions from one song to another when they are playing records at a dance club. ...
s became favourites of international DJs such as
Carl Cox
Carl Andrew Cox (born 29 July 1962) is a British house and techno club DJ, radio DJ, motorsport team owner and record producer. He is based in Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
Cox has won and been nominated for numerous awards. He has perfor ...
,
Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills (born June 18, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan), also known as "the Wizard", is an American DJ, record producer, and composer. In the late 1980s Mills founded the techno collective Underground Resistance with fellow Detroit techno pro ...
,
DJ QBert
Richard Quitevis (born October 7, 1969) known by his stage name DJ Qbert or Qbert, is a Filipino American turntablist and composer who has heavily influenced the History of DJing. He was awarded America's Best DJ in 2010, was DMC USA Champio ...
and
Cut Chemist
Lucas MacFadden (born October 4, 1972), better known as Cut Chemist, is an American DJ and record producer. He is a former member of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli. He has collaborated with DJ Shadow on a number of projects.
Early life
Cut Chemist gr ...
. Mixers such as the various iterations of the PMC-05pro have become staples of the Hip Hop DJ community, and they also have manufactured signature models for DJ's such as Carl Cox and DJ Qbert.
See also
*
List of phonograph manufacturers
This is a list of phonograph manufacturers. The phonograph, in its later forms also called a gramophone, record player or turntable, is a device introduced in 1877 for the mechanical recording and reproduction of sound. Phonographs can also spec ...
References
External links
{{Commons category multi, Vestax, Hidesato Shiino
Hidesato Shiino InterviewNAMM Oral History Library (2011)
Phonograph manufacturers
Japanese brands
Musical instrument manufacturing companies based in Tokyo
Audio equipment manufacturers of Japan
DJ equipment
1977 establishments in Japan
Electronics companies established in 1977
Defunct companies of Japan